2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport Powertrain (other) Problems

Campaign 9C2 was installed on this vehicle and the now the vehicle is a danger to drive. My wife refuses to drive it as it bucks and jerks as well as the gas mileage has decreased from 35 highway to 28 highway. The fuel trims are way off on cold starts and the transmission now searches for the correct gear. Shifting back and forth. Just a slight touch of the accelerator and the car seems to jump forward which makes stop and go driving almost impossible.

NHTSA ID

11746463

Incident

May 10, 2026

Following the completion of an official emissions recall software upgrade at Fitzgerald Auto Mall Countryside, Clearwater Florida, my 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport (52,000 miles) now suffers from a severe loss of motive power and erratic transmission shifting/jerking during cold starts throughout day. The vehicle continues to hesitate during cold starts, making it impossible to safely accelerate from a stop into incoming traffic. I returned to dealership on 5/29/26 to address continued driving issues. The servicing dealership states they don't have a software fix and offer no mechanical fix. The dealership states they received an internal memo from Hyundai Corporate which instructed the dealership to tell affected owners to idle the vehicle for 1-3 minutes before driving to allow system adjustments. Forcing a consumer to wait out a dangerous powertrain defect in a running vehicle to avoid a roadway acceleration/loss accident is an unacceptable safety hazard. The manufacturers recall update has actively compromised the safe operation and motive control of this vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11743387

Incident

Mar 2, 2026

COMPONENT FAILED: Theta II 2.4L GDI engine connecting rod bearings. Vehicle has 95,000 miles. Engine available for inspection in [XXX] . SAFETY RISK: Engine knock + limp mode at 1500 RPM caused sudden loss of power on highway. Oil consumption 1L/700km risks catastrophic engine seizure while driving. CONFIRMED BY DEALER: Independent service center confirmed DTC P0010 from metal debris. Hyundai Motor America Case #42623761 confirmed recall coverage but refuses remedy. INSPECTION: Manufacturer aware via Case #42623761. Local Hyundai dealers non-responsive. No police/insurance inspection. WARNING SYMPTOMS: Engine knock started at ~94,000 miles. Check Engine Light with DTC P0010. Progressive oil consumption. Limp mode activated at 95,000 miles. HYUNDAI VIOLATION: Hyundai confirmed via email they refuse to honor Safety Recall 162 / Service Campaign 966 Lifetime Warranty for VIN [XXX] despite all symptoms matching recall description. Request NHTSA compel Hyundai to authorize Bearing Clearance Test and engine replacement. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11735718

Incident

May 4, 2026

Component: Engine (Theta II 2.4L GDI) / connecting rod bearing-related failure risk with abnormal internal oil loss. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request (engine, oil level condition, diagnostic history, and dealer records). Safety risk: While driving on the highway (approx. 70 mph), the vehicle displayed a low oil warning, and I experienced concern for potential engine seizure/stalling and sudden loss of power, which could cause a crash. I reduced speed and sought service. This condition presents an ongoing safety risk because sudden engine failure can occur without adequate warning. Dealer confirmation: The problem was confirmed by a Hyundai dealer. After a routine oil change, the low oil warning appeared within ~1,700 miles. A Hyundai service center inspected the vehicle and documented the engine was approximately 3 quarts low with no external leaks, indicating internal loss/engine deterioration rather than a leak. Hyundai then required additional steps (combustion chamber cleaning and monitored mileage), and the abnormal internal oil loss condition persisted. Manufacturer inspection: The vehicle has been inspected by Hyundai dealerships, and Hyundai performed campaign-related actions, including KSDS/ECM update (T3G) and later knock sensor replacement. No police or insurance inspection. No crash or injury occurred. Warning lamps/symptoms prior to failure: Prior symptoms included a Check Engine Lamp with DTC P1326 (KSDS-related) documented by Hyundai service in 2025, followed by continued abnormal internal engine condition. The low oil warning occurred while the vehicle was in motion (highway speed). The issue remains unresolved, and I do not feel the vehicle is safe to operate due to seizure/stall risk. Additional: I reported this as a safety defect because similar Theta II engine issues are widely reported and can result in stalling, seizure, or engine fire. Hyundai denied engine replacement assistance despite the documented condition.

NHTSA ID

11708993

Incident

Jan 5, 2026

I have maintained my car regularly. I use LOFSYNBLEND oil at 7500 mile intervals per car and oil manufacturer. At 70000 mile oil change the tech showed me that less than a quart of oil came out of the crankcase during the oil change. There were no visible leaks, no visible smoke coming out of the exhaust when I drove the car, and NO warning light. This was the first time that this issue was present to my knowledge. I am taking the vehicle to the dealer for an Official Oil Consumption Test.

NHTSA ID

11707342

Incident

Dec 19, 2025

The engine in my 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport, specifically the 2.4L Theta II engine, failed and is available for inspection upon request. This failure caused the vehicle to stall unexpectedly while driving, creating a serious safety hazard due to the sudden loss of power and control. The issue has been diagnosed by a Hyundai dealership, which confirmed the engine requires replacement due to internal failure. The manufacturer has denied warranty coverage, alleging maintenance neglect by the previous owner. Prior to the failure, the Check Engine light illuminated, the vehicle began making knocking noises, and it experienced a loss of power before stalling.

NHTSA ID

11631850

Incident

Jul 24, 2024

The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated while depressing the accelerator pedal and attempting to overtake another vehicle, the vehicle failed to immediately respond, and the vehicle decelerated. Additionally, the vehicle suddenly lost automotive power while driving at various speeds and decelerated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who could not duplicate the failure or determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 10,000.

NHTSA ID

11618542

Incident

Nov 1, 2018

Mileage

10,000 mi

I was pulling onto I75 at 6:00am when my car started shuttering, making a clicking/ knocking noise and slowing way down. Thankfully I was able to make it onto the shoulder before causing an accident. I was unable to accelerate enough to go anywhere so I called a tow truck. My car is burning oil at an extremely fast rate. I have to get my oil refilled about every 7-10 days with the only warning of low oil being a flicker of my oil light. Continue to be shut down by Hyundai when we mention it. Everyone I know with this engine has had to have it replaced or get a new car. But Hyundai doesn’t want to do anything about mine. Currently sitting in their lot and they said it would be about a month before they would even look at it.

NHTSA ID

11579612

Incident

Mar 18, 2024

Driving down a 4 lane highway my car refused to accelerate and started shaking vigorously. My vehicles check engine light began to flask on and off. Had to pull off the high way and take the back roads the rest of the way home in fear that it would stop in the middle of the street. As we drove home, every time we would slow down or had to come to a stop the car would continue to shake and rattle with the check engine going and and off the rest of the way home. Took this to the dealership and they stated that I have a burnt exhaust valve on cylinder #2 along with needing a new catalytic converter and told me I should just replace the entire engine. I have 67k miles on a 2017 hyundai Santa Fe.

NHTSA ID

11568913

Incident

Jan 7, 2024

I brought the car 4/2023 within 2 weeks I had to big it back brakes locking up replaced rotors and pads. Then the strut on right needed to be replaced because of noise and pulling, still pulls. Then the fuel pump went replaced that anc then the differential was replaced but still slipping. The oil light came in after the oil change had to add oil and requesting consumption test. I have had this car 6 months and nobody has figured out what’s going on.

NHTSA ID

11552071

Incident

May 3, 2023

The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the vehicle struggled while accelerating before there was an abnormal bang coming from the engine compartment. The contact was able to coast to the side of the roadway and received Roadside Assistance; however, the vehicle failed to restart. After a visual inspection of the engine compartment, Roadside Assistance observed oil leaking from the engine and stopped the attempts to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who determined that a piston had fractured, and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 104,000.

NHTSA ID

11535908

Incident

Jul 29, 2023

Mileage

104,000 mi

My car is burning to much oil which has caused my car to have a check engine light. I was not due for an oil change until end of July 2023 and the car was barely with no oil. I took it in to get an oil change at Valvoline and they confirmed no oil was hardly in the chamber and that my car needed an oil consumption test by dealer. Hyundai models have been having multiple issues with engine failure. This is a safety Hazard as on the road is when I noticed my car shutting off on me. I am working on getting this taken care of with corporate Hyundai and dealer.

NHTSA ID

11530658

Incident

Jun 30, 2023

The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power without warning. The contact was able to restart the vehicle after several attempts. The contact drove the vehicle to an independent mechanic where she was informed that the vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V056000 (Service Brake, Hydraulics). The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it remained. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

NHTSA ID

11513664

Incident

Mar 22, 2023

Mileage

100,000 mi

Oil pressure sensor failed allowing pressurized oil to leak both externally and also internally into the attached electrical harness. The oil that leaked into the harness traveled to the ECM. The repair shop personnel stated that the failure is not covered by the 10 yr 100,000 mile power train warranty but does possess a fire or electrical failure.

NHTSA ID

11500349

Incident

Jan 3, 2023

The left rear differential completely failed at 25,000 miles. According to the repair shop (Connie & Dicks in Claremont, CA) there was something structurally wrong with the rear differential and it never should have failed like this on a 5 year old car with 25,000 miles. The pinion nut was loose which caused the pinion gear to walk forward and backward in the housing which caused wear on the differential and resulted in catastrophic differential failure.

NHTSA ID

11467847

Incident

May 10, 2022

MY CAR HAS STARTED JERKING WHEN UP SHIFTING AND SEEMS TO ONLY BE HAPPENING WHEN THE CAR HAS NOT WARMED UP. THEN TODAY WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 78MPH MY CAR LOST POWER. NOT COMPLETELY. ALMOST LIKE SOMETHING "GAVE OUT" AND I LOST THE FORWARD FORCE I WAS GOING. IT ALSO BECAME LOUDER, ALMOST LIKE A LID HUM. WHEN YOU ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE DOES NOT WANT TO GO

NHTSA ID

11397054

Incident

Feb 19, 2021

Mileage

133,000 mi

THERE'S ALWAYS A 2-3 SECONDS HESITATION IN SITUATIONS WHERE ACCELERATION IS NECESSARY. AFTER 2-3 SECONDS OF HESITATION AFTER STEPPING ON THE PEDAL FOR ACCELERATION, THE CAR REVS AND PRODUCES HIGH PITCHED AND LOUD SOUND WITH NO ACCELERATION OR ACCELERATES ABRUPTLY. QUICKLY MERGING INTO HIGHWAY, MAKING TURNS, CHANGING LANES FROM A FULL STOP AND SLOW MOVEMENT FEEL LIKE PLAYING RUSSIAN ROULETTE. HYUNDAI SERVICE CENTER ALWAYS CLAIMS THEY CANNOT REPLICATE MY COMPLAINT AND MY CONCERN IS IGNORED.

NHTSA ID

11221894

Incident

Feb 28, 2017

Mileage

500 mi

JUST GOT THIS CAR 2 WEEKS AGO AND IT HESITATES WHEN TURNING OR TRYING TO GET OUT INTO TRAFFIC. VERY SCARY! HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES AT RANDOM UNDER THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCE OF TURNING OR MERGING..

NHTSA ID

11191961

Incident

Mar 10, 2019

Mileage

28,000 mi

WHEN MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT 90 DEGREES TURN FROM A STOPPED POSITION EXITING A DRIVEWAY OR FROM A STOP SIGN ON SMOOTH SURFACED ROADS, UPON ACCELERATION, AT THE MIDPOINT OF THE TURN THE FORWARD MOMENTUM STARTS TO LAG AND PRESSING THE GAS PEDDLE RESULTS IN WHAT FEELS LIKE A LOSS OF OR REDUCTION OF ENGINE POWER CAUSING POTENTIAL FOR NOT GETTING UP TO A SAFE SPEED TO MERGE SAFELY IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. COMPLAINED TO THE HYUNDAI DEALER THAT STATED WAS A COMPUTER ISSUE HAVING TO DO WITH TRACTION CONTROL AND REQUIRES AN UPDATE WHICH IS NOT AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME.

NHTSA ID

11089305

Incident

Mar 5, 2018

Mileage

24,000 mi

I HAVE A 2017 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT 2.0 WITH 8500 MILES ON IT. SINCE I TOOK POSSESSION OF THIS CAR, I HAVE BEEN HAVING REPEATED OCCURRENCES OF ENGINE STALLING COUPLED WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT GOING ON. THIS HAPPENS WHEN I MAKE EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT TURNS INTO TRAFFIC: ACCELERATION STALLS COMPLETELY FOR 2-3 SECONDS, AND THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT FLASHES. I CANNOT GET THE CAR TO ACCELERATE AT ALL, EVEN WITH THE PEDAL FULLY DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR. THE ENGINE REVS EXTREMELY HARD, BUT THE CAR DOES NOT ACCELERATE. THIS HAPPENS ON COMPLETELY DRY PAVEMENT. THERE IS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH THE 2017 HYUNDAI SANTA FE, AND SOMEONE IS GOING TO DIE AS A RESULT OF THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE COME CLOSE TO BEING REAR ENDED MULTIPLE TIMES, AND I HAVE NEARLY BEEN T-BONED WHEN TAKING A TURN IN FRONT OF ON-COMING TRAFFIC. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ONLINE, AND IT IS WIDE SPREAD WITH HUNDREDS OF IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE SOMEONE DIES IN THE 2017 HYUNDAI SANTA FE.

NHTSA ID

11081444

Incident

Mar 27, 2018

Mileage

8,500 mi

THIS INITIALLY STARTED AROUND 3K MILES. WE THOUGHT THE VEHICLE ADJUSTING TO OUR DRIVING PATTERNS; HOWEVER OVERTIME IT BECAME A CONSTANT PROBLEM. I CALLED THE SERVICE DEPT. & THEY'D NOT HEARD OF THIS OCCURRING. IT'S GETTING MUCH WORSE AND I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. THE VEHICLE RANDOMLY AT NO SPECIFIC SPEED SEEMS TO EITHER GET STUCK IN A GEAR OR TRY TO STALL TURNING LEFT, RIGHT (DRY CONDITIONS) OR AS I'M ON THE HIGHWAY MOVING LANES; NO SPECIFIC MPH. (THIS IS A DRIVING DEATH MACHINE AND FOR SAFETY PURPOSES I REFUSE TO PUT OTHER LIVES AT RISK) THERE'S A 2-4 SEC. DELAY, FORCING ME TO PUNCH THE GAS (MY GRANDFATHER OR FATHER WOULD HAVE STATED; "SOUNDS LIKE SAWDUST IN YOUR ENGINE") TO GET MY VEHICLE TO MOVE; ULTIMATELY A NEAR MISS OF A FATAL INCIDENT ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND BECOMING VERY CLOSE TO GETTING T-BONED DUE TO THIS DANGEROUSLY "UNPREDICTABLE & EXTREMELY UNSAFE" VEHICLE. MY HUSBAND WAS FED UP AND TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP.WE PROVIDED DETAILED EXPLANATIONS OF OUR EXPERIENCES. YESTERDAY RECEIVED BACK FROM SERVICE TECH OUR INVOICE OF SERVICE WORK AND THEY STATE NO PROBLEMS; & UPDATE CAUSE TO RESOLUTION :TSB 17-BR0002 TCS UPDATE. IN NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS FROM 5 MPH TO 20MPH THE RPMS SHOULDN'T SUDDENLY INCREASE TO 5K WITHOUT FORWARD MOTION. THIS OCCURS IN NORMAL, ECO, AND SPORT AT SPORADIC TIMES. MY VEHICLE HAS 10,223 MILES THIS MORNING.I SPOKE WITH HYUNDAIUSA & INQUIRED OF A BUYBACK FOR VEHICLE CONSIDERING THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE VEHICLE'S SAFETY AND BECAUSE THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN STATED THERE'S NO FIX NOW OR IN THE NEAR FUTURE. AN ENGINEER FROM HYUNDAI CORP WOULD HAVE TO COME AND THERE'S NO IDEA WHEN (?). SO I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE SERIOUSNESS OF THIS SAFETY. IF THERE'S ANY POTENTIAL OF PREVENTING LOST LIVES OF CHILDREN AND BABIES, PLEASE HELP.

NHTSA ID

11078270

Incident

May 1, 2017

Mileage

3,007 mi

WHILE TURNING LEFT FROM A STOP ONTO A STATE HIGHWAY IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA ALL ACCELERATIVE CAPABILITY WAS LOST WHEN THE VEHICLE CROSSED A SET OF RAILROAD TRACKS AT AN ESTIMATED 5 MPH, MID-WAY THROUGH THE TURN. THE AWD VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A 2.4L NORMALLY ASPIRATED ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE 'ECO' DRIVING MODE AND THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS IN THE 'D' RANGE. ATTEMPTS TO ADD POWER VIA THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WERE MET WITH NO INCREASE IN ENGINE RPM AND, CONSEQUENTLY, NO INCREASE IN VEHICLE SPEED. THE CONDITION PERSISTED FOR 10-12 SECONDS, DURING WHICH TIME THE VEHICLE TRAVELED ONLY 75-90 FEET WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL NEARLY 'FLOORED.' THERE WAS NO SHOULDER AND ONLY ONE LANE IN EACH DIRECTION, WHICH PRECLUDED MOVING THE VEHICLE TO A PLACE OF RELATIVE SAFETY. THE WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE SUNNY AND CLEAR, AND THE TEMPERATURE WAS 55F. THE ROADWAY SURFACE WAS CLEAN DRY, AND FREE OF LOOSE MATERIAL OR CONTAMINANTS. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED ON A TANGENT SECTION OF HIGHWAY WITH NO GRADE AND A CROWN SLOPE OF APPROXIMATELY 2-PERCENT.

NHTSA ID

11074569

Incident

Feb 23, 2018

Mileage

11,000 mi

SEVERE HESITATION OCCURS WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE FORM A STOP. HESITATION OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY AND HAPPENS WHEN TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT. MORE LIKELY TO HAPPEN IF THE ROAD SURFACE THAT THE VEHICLE IS TURNING ON TO IS ROUGH. THE VEHICLE WILL BEGIN TO ACCELERATE AND THEN LOSE ACCELERATION. ALTHOUGH PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR THE CAR DOES NOT SPEED UP EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINE REVS UP. AFTER ABOUT 3 SECONDS THE VEHICLE THEN RESPONDS AND BEGINS TO ACCELERATE. SITUATION MAY OCCUR 3 OR 4 TIMES A WEEK. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE I HAVE ALMOST BEEN HIT FROM BEHIND BECAUSE THE VEHICLE SLOWS DOWN WITHOUT WARNING.

NHTSA ID

11073792

Incident

Feb 19, 2018

Mileage

400 mi

YESTERDAY, WHILE DRIVING THE WARNING LIGHT SYMBOLS FOR THE ESC AND DBC CAME ON OUT OF THE BLUE. I WAS ON A LOCAL ROAD, NO INCLINE OR DECLINE, A STRAIGHT LEVEL ROAD WITH TRAFFIC MOVING AT ABOUT 30 MPH. IMMEDIATELY THE CAR SEEMED AS THOUGH IT DID NOT WANT TO GO FORWARD. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE CAR OFF AND ON AGAIN AND THE WARNING SYMBOLS DISAPPEARED. I CONTINUED HOME AND PARKED THE CAR. WHILE IN PARK, THE TWO WARNING SYMBOLS ILLUMINATED AGAIN WITH AN ADDITIONAL WARNING OF MIL. THE VEHICLE IS STILL IN PARK AND A MESSAGE COMES ACROSS THE CONSOLE THAT THERE IS SOMETHING POSSIBLY WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND THE VEHICLE COULD LOSE POWER. I TURNED IT OFF AND ON AGAIN AND ON THE 3RD TRY, THE WARNING SYMBOLS DISAPPEARED. I TOOK IT TO THE HYUNDAI DEALER THIS AFTERNOON FOR SERVICE AND ON THE INVOICE IT STATED THAT AN INHIBITOR SWITCH WAS INSTALLED / RECALL COMPLETED. NOW I NEVER RECEIVED NOTICE THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE NOR CAN I FIND ANYTHING ONLINE REGARDING PROBLEMS WITH THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11062223

Incident

Jan 10, 2018

Mileage

9,230 mi

TRANSMISSION SHIFTING IS ERRATIC. STUMBLES/SLAMS INTO GEAR 90% OF THE TIME. SHIFTING IS FELT THROUGHOUT ENTIRE CAR. TRANSMISSION UPSHIFTS WAY TO EARLY WHEN SLOWLY ACCELERATING OR DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS. CAR COULD BE GOING 20 MPH AND HAS ALREADY PUT ITSELF IN 4TH OR 5TH GEAR. THEN WHEN YOU TRY TO ACCELERATE, THE CAR BUCKS AND WILL EVENTUALLY SLAM INTO THE LOWER GEAR THAT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN. MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT AND UNCOMFORTABLE TO DRIVE IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. TRANSMISSION DOESN'T DOWNSHIFT PROPERLY EITHER. YOU MUST COME TO A COMPLETE STOP BEFORE MAKING A TURN ONTO A STREET. IF NOT, THE CAR WILL NOT DOWNSHIFT TO THE CORRECT GEAR AND WHEN YOU TRY TO ACCELERATE, THE CAR WILL START BUCKING AND EVENTUALLY SLAMS INTO THE APPROPRIATE GEAR. I TOOK THE CAR TO SPRINGFIELD HYUNDAI IN SPRINGFIELD, PA TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. AFTER WAITING THERE FOR 3 HOURS, THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY COULDN'T REPLICATE THE ISSUE I WAS COMPLAINING ABOUT, BUT PERFORMED A "SOFTWARE UPDATE" THAT MAY HELP. I'M STILL NOT SURE HOW A CAR THAT WAS PURCHASED ONLY A MONTH PRIOR, FROM A HYUNDAI DEALER, HAD A "SOFTWARE UPDATE" THAT WASN'T PERFORMED BEFORE I PURCHASED IT. THE 14 YEAR OLD HONDA ELEMENT THAT I TRADED IN ON THIS CAR SHIFTED AND DROVE SMOOTHER.

NHTSA ID

11053401

Incident

Oct 13, 2017

Mileage

75 mi